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Belief in angels, holy books, and prophets are three of the Six Articles of Faith in Sunni Islam. These beliefs are interconnected — Allah sent prophets to guide humanity, gave them holy books, and used angels as messengers to communicate his will. This lesson explores each of these beliefs in detail.
Muslims believe that angels are beings created by Allah from light (nur). They are different from humans and jinn:
| Feature | Angels | Humans | Jinn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Created from | Light | Clay/earth | Smokeless fire |
| Free will | No — they always obey Allah | Yes — can choose to obey or disobey | Yes — can choose to obey or disobey |
| Physical form | No physical body (can take human form) | Physical body | Invisible to humans |
| Role | Serve and worship Allah | Worship Allah and be stewards of the earth | Live alongside humans |
| Angel | Arabic Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jibril (Gabriel) | Jibril | The angel of revelation; brought the Qur'an to Muhammad (PBUH) |
| Mikail (Michael) | Mikail | The angel of mercy; provides sustenance and nourishment |
| Israfil | Israfil | Will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgement |
| Azrael (Izrail) | Malak al-Mawt | The angel of death; takes souls at the time of death |
| Munkar and Nakir | Munkar wa Nakir | Question the dead in the grave about their faith |
| Kiraman Katibin | Kiraman Katibin | Recording angels; one records good deeds, the other records bad deeds |
"Whoever is an enemy to Jibril — it is he who has brought it [the Qur'an] down upon your heart by permission of Allah." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:97)
Exam Tip: Jibril is the most important angel because he brought the Qur'an to Muhammad. Make sure you can explain his role and why he is significant.
flowchart TD
AL[Allah]
AL -->|sends| MA["Malaikah - Angels<br/>created from light"]
MA -->|Jibril delivers| KU[Kutub - Holy Books]
AL -->|chooses| RU[Rusul - Prophets]
KU --> K1[Suhuf to Ibrahim]
KU --> K2[Tawrat to Musa]
KU --> K3[Zabur to Dawud]
KU --> K4[Injil to Isa]
KU --> K5["Qur’an to Muhammad<br/>final, unchanged"]
RU --> R1[Adam - first prophet]
RU --> R2[Ibrahim - father of monotheism]
RU --> R3[Musa, Dawud, Isa]
RU --> R4["Muhammad PBUH<br/>Khatam an-Nabiyyin<br/>Seal of Prophets"]
K5 -.delivered to.-> R4
Muslims believe that Allah has revealed his message through several holy books:
| Book | Arabic Name | Prophet | Status in Islam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scrolls of Abraham | Suhuf Ibrahim | Ibrahim (Abraham) | Lost; content unknown |
| Torah (Tawrat) | Tawrat | Musa (Moses) | Original message was from Allah, but Muslims believe it has been altered over time |
| Psalms (Zabur) | Zabur | Dawud (David) | Original message was from Allah, but has been changed |
| Gospel (Injil) | Injil | Isa (Jesus) | Original message was from Allah, but has been corrupted |
| Qur'an | Al-Qur'an | Muhammad (PBUH) | The final, perfect, and unchanged word of Allah |
The Qur'an holds a unique status in Islam:
"This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:2)
While the Qur'an is the word of Allah, Muslims also follow:
Key Term: The Hadith and Sunnah are not considered the word of Allah but are highly authoritative because Muhammad is the perfect example for Muslims to follow.
Muslims believe that Allah has sent thousands of prophets throughout history to guide humanity. The Qur'an names 25 prophets, and Muhammad is the final prophet (Khatam an-Nabiyyin — the Seal of the Prophets).
| Prophet | Arabic Name | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Adam | Adam | The first human and first prophet; father of humanity |
| Ibrahim (Abraham) | Ibrahim | Father of monotheism; willing to sacrifice his son for Allah; rebuilt the Ka'bah |
| Musa (Moses) | Musa | Received the Torah; led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt |
| Dawud (David) | Dawud | King and prophet; received the Psalms (Zabur) |
| Isa (Jesus) | Isa | A great prophet and messiah; born of a virgin; performed miracles; Muslims believe he was NOT crucified and was raised to heaven |
| Muhammad | Muhammad (PBUH) | The final prophet; received the Qur'an; the perfect example for all Muslims |
"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets." (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:40)
Exam Tip: Be careful with Isa (Jesus). Muslims revere Jesus as a great prophet but do NOT believe he was the Son of God, was divine, or was crucified. This is a key difference between Islam and Christianity.
| Belief | Impact |
|---|---|
| Angels | Muslims are aware that their deeds are constantly being recorded; this encourages good behaviour |
| Holy Books | The Qur'an is the ultimate guide for Muslim life; it is recited in prayer, studied daily, and memorised |
| Prophets | Muhammad's example (Sunnah) guides Muslims in everything from prayer to diet to how they treat others |
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